You may not have a psychiatric issue after all

I like the two choices psychiatrist Dr. Mark Goulston gives those patients where a psychiatric illness is clearly not present. Choice 2 makes it clear that each of us is responsible for our own "hubris."

Choice 1: "I can diagnose you as having a sickness or illness and direct you towards treatment with psychotherapy (possibly long term) and possible medication and refer you to someone else who does much more of both currently than I."

or...

Choice 2: "I can view you as being factually wrong, psychologically flawed and emotionally immature and work with you to correct all of these. By this I mean

• you are first looking at the world through a filter that is just a filter and not necessarily accurate with regard to any situation.
  
• Next you are psychologically processing that misperception in a way to cause you to view and treat your interpretation as an absolute immutable fact.
  
• Finally when you feel disappointed, hurt or frustrated in conjunction with that belief--instead of pausing momentarily to reflect and then considering your options--you immediately act on those feelings in ways that nearly always makes matters worse."